School Report - Terry Mackie

Except for one small detail: it is in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

This Christmas, for me and my significant other, is like no past or future one as we are spending the holidays in true Dickensian style in an orphanage.

Except for one small detail: it is in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Our Barry friends, Carol and Gareth, founded an orphanage called Pooncholai for dalits, the underclass of India, more than 20 years ago.

The Tamil director of the orphanage, a pariah (the lowest subset of “the untouchables”), leads education and care for 60 children, aged four to 20, all funded by UK sponsorship, most of it from Wales.

A remarkable job is being accomplished through this inspiring collective effort. But before my own personal halo slips – and chokes me – I will venture a few points about international educational practices and how to achieve high standards for children in public care.

Against a background of pedagogical penury, no teacher aids, all ages of learners subjected to monotonous chalk and talk; Pooncholai children are excelling in attainments of international standard. Mobile phones are ubiquitous on the street but applied technology is just a rumour for these learning places.

Inquiring in a local telecoms shop about getting wi-fi, I noticed the female assistant blush. She thought I was after a marriage partner! High learner standards in Tamil Nadu are not related to advanced teaching or technology.

How well are these mother-of-all-deprivation children doing? It is devastating to reflect that they are outpacing the generality of their Welsh peers and I would estimate their children in care performance is 10-times better than any Wales local education authority (LEA) could muster.

They have universal primary literacy and numeracy, they record 20% better attainments at 16 than the Welsh average and Pooncholai enjoys a 90% 16+ staying-on rate. What is their secret? Simples! Dynamic leadership; responsible education in its truest sense; and extended ergonomics.

The power of great leadership pulsates from voluntary UK trustees to dedicated local managers. Pooncholai practises the tough love of a large family, teaching each youngster first to be a good follower, then to be a leader for the younger and weaker. The momentum from charity to aid to self-help is palpable in this system of all-through leadership.

“Educar” in Spanish means to bring up (a child). Care and growth in learning at best become holistic. These are very healthy kids, nourished by a balanced diet and lots of physical activity, including frequent community celebrations.

The children observe strict boundaries but are also given incremental independence. They are taught early on to stand on their own two feet. Nonsense like corporate parenting does not exist here.

Lastly, these kids work harder and longer at their studies than ours – for at least two hours each evening. Their books are never far from their rush mat beds.

Their soaring aspirations are fuelled by a belief in personal industry. The iniquity of their culture of caste will not stop them striving to be the best they can be.

In Pooncholai, massive disadvantage is turned into a springboard by increasing quantity of practice.

This is not just an Asian model; recently four states in the USA have increased teaching hours by 300 a year. Can you see that being floated to the unions by our education minister in the near future?

Soon, we could be the Third World of education. And our children in public care would be the dalits of Wales, but without any Pooncholai magic.

Terry Mackie is director of educational consultancy Empathi Cymru and former head of school improvement for Newport council

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